Mojo's Spring Fling Criterium

Race #1 - February 28th, 2004

Presented by Anam Gathering.  Free Youth & Junior racing by Slimmer's Automotive Service.

Back for it's 9th year, the 1st Spring Fling in 1995 averaged 25 riders per race day. The 2004 addition featured several mile stones including 175 race "entrants". (Includes racers in multiple race categories). Alta-Sport features mixed categories to promote dual races and a taste for the higher category.

NEW for 2004 a true beginner's women's category which saw some new faces and 8 beginner woman. 27 kids in the youth and junior race resulted in the largest  junior field in over a decade.. Thanks to Slimmer's Automotive for making the free junior race a possibility. Once again Alta-Sport offered KSU and KU riders their first race on the house.

New Team general classification (GC) Awards. Your top 3 rider's placing determine your Team GC. For Instance Team X Cycling placed 3 riders in the top 6 of the Cat 3/4 race. They currently lead the Cat 3/4 Team GC.

Intense Cat 3/4 racing was the highlight of the afternoon. Near forty riders with dominate teams KCOI, Team X, and Cowtown were there controlling the pack and sprints. The race defining moment happened when Steve Schneller and Jim Whittaker of Team X with leg-breaker Major JB Vowell put in a 5-second gap to win the last points lap sprint. Whittaker was heard yelling at Team Mate Schneller to go for it. Steve hung on the 3 laps to win the last lap sprint but Major V showed why you don't mess with the US Army. Kevin McComas came out of nowhere to win the pack sprint and consistent Chris Hess road a solid race to place 3rd overall.

The dominate Cat 4/5 sprinting and pouncing of KSU Wildcat Mark Smelser was obvious to all! Mark picked up where he finished off at last week's King lil Ring Challenge. KCOI's Adrian O'Hara also impressed with his positing ability and sprinting. Pittsburg, KS Tailwind Team continued it's strong Mojo's Spring Fling showing. Team X's Cat 4 sprinter Kurt Albrecht placed 3rd the last lap to bag 4th over all.

The new Alta-Sport category 4 beginners women drew 10 women and many of them were new to racing. Marian Smith of KCBC fought a close battle to win the first ever Beginner's Cat 4 women's race.

Sunflower's Jennifer Tilley won the  Category 3/4 women's crit with KCBC's Juli Watkins and Jill Thole a close 2nd and 3rd. Sprinting ace Nan Gatewood placed 4th and new KU rider Jen Duffy 7th.

Thirty-five men raced the Cat 5 race and Pittsburg, Kansas rider Matt VanDyne takes the win over KCBC's Tige Lamb. KU cycling rider placed 8th and Team X's Austin Fick placed 6th in his first race of 2004.

The largest junior field in a decade placed Chris Hall in 1st with Austin Fick of Team X cycling in 2nd. Oz Jr. new comer Harvey Wright placed 3rd!

The McClaren Race team rolls again with a few new engines. Runner turned cyclists Brian Jensen beat Steve Tilford to place 1st at the 1st Alta-Sport race of the year. Tom Luke was the best of the rest. The McClaren team rolled off the front and lapped the filed without much resistance. It may be a tough spring for the other 1/2/3 riders at the Spring Fling.

Team reports will be published next to your team photos, so McClaren Racing, KCBC, Cowtown, KCOI, Collegiate racers, ect. Submit Alta-Sport your races reports and we'll put em up.

K-State's Mark Smelser is the Wheatgrass Power Fling Rider!

KSU Rider Mark Smelser lays the law down yet again.

 The Blue Train lost no steam over the Winter.

KCA women's guru scores a touchdown with her women's recruiting.

The Cat 3/4's hide from the wind.

Ben Coles & Jim Whittaker of Team X talked tatics all day.

The mighty OZ Jr. team impressed with new  colors!

Adam Lang of Team X juniors is excited to be back on the bike.

Cat 5 winner Matt VayDyne shows his secret.

Garrick the Lion Heart is interviewed by the one-armed DJ.

Big Red rolls into Lawrence.

Moo-over boys, were headed out to the pasture.

The new kid's on the block. Team KCOI.

Almost 50 riders in the Cat 4/5 race!

KCBC's Marrian Smith win's the greens.

KCOI Lyle Reynold sprints.

Cat 4/5 last lap sprint, Mark, Adrian and Kurt blow the field away.

Team X's Lance Sulzen fresh from his Cat I upgrade points in Arizona is happy to be home.

Lady power via KCBC shows their stuff.

Team BLOGS, send em in and we'll post em.

Spring Fling Race Blog (new bloggage 3/2/04)

KCOI's Walty B's Blog

Series Points Total

(Your actual race day points don't transfer to the series, they merely determine your race day finish. There are some team name discrepancies with the Topeka Wheatland's Team and Tailwind Team out of Pittsburgh, Kansas. Please email me all team name changes.)